Share via

Mako Vunipola may not play a significant international for England before the World Cup after it emerged that the knee injury he suffered in the Heineken Cup final will keep him out of action for between six and ten months.

Vunipola required surgery last week after he dislocated his right kneecap and damaged the surrounding cartilage in Saracens’ 23-6 defeat by Toulon at the Millennium Stadium. The club initially said that the 23-year-old would return this year, but that appears to be a best-case scenario.

Vunipola seems certain to miss England’s four QBE internationals in November and it is doubtful